Restless Leg Syndrome Management Strategies

What is a Simple Explanation of the Mechanism of Restless Leg Syndrome?
Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS is usually genetic in nature and it involves the Dopamine pathways (dopaminergic) of the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter of the brain and responsible for communication related to:

• motor skills (particularly fine tuning)
• motivation
• pleasure
• euphoria
• compulsion
• perserverance

The other major brain neurotransmitter is Serotonin which is responsible for:

• sleep
• mood
• memory processing
• cognition

The pathway most likely affected in RLS is the nigrostriatal pathway which transmits dopamine from the substantia nigra to the striatum. The striatum is a major communication pathway between the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia of the brain. The basal ganglia controls sensory-motor functions. Sensory-motor functions have to do with feelings that govern muscle movement and any impairment that causes a breakdown of communication(in the striatum) between the cerebral cortex which takes feelings and makes them into thoughts and the basal ganglia which takes feelings and turns them into motor functions will result in a set of symptoms that resembles RLS. Other conditions can also result form impairment of the striatum include schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, chorea and hyperprolactinaemia.

How Does RLS Occur?
RLS is most likely genetic, but it can also be due to traumatic injury and kidney pathology. RLS has a relationship with iron deficiency (ID). This is because in the presence of ID glutamate receptors and adenosine receptors in the brain form connections with the dopamine receptors in the brain that decreases the dopamine receptor site function and number causing RLS symptoms. In layman's terms iron maintains proper connections between receptor sites in the striatum of the brain where important communication occurs.   Because RLS is intermittent meaning that it intially comes and goes, one can assume that there is a healthy threshold for each person. This means there is a point where full health and functionality exists and when one falls below this threshold then symptoms of RLS appear. So, when one is healthy and above the threshold there are no symptoms and conversely when one is in poor health or weak then symptoms appear. There are many factors which can bring a person's health below the healthy threshold:

• Illness
• Stress-not taking time out for you to take care of your body. Having a drink at the end of a stressful day is like pouring gas on the fire. It's ok once in a while, but try working out, taking a walk,  just sitting down for a few minutes. If you are saying to me now "oh that is easy for you to say, you don't have kids or a family like I do". Well, the turth is I do and your saying that just might be part of the problem. Make time for yourself and your family will understand.
  
• Aging
  
• Lifestyle choices which increase oxidative damage in the brain
• Smoking
• Sugar
• Processed food
• Excessive work
• Exposure to toxins
• Lack of exercise
• Alcohol consumption (too much can cause cellular damage)
  
• Menstruation
  
• Expression of genetic predisposition

Management of RLS

• Definitely keep your iron levels up by iron supplementation if you experience RLS
  
• Maintain a diet of vegetables, and whole foods
• Decrease processed foods
• Decrease fried food consumption. Frying damages the fat which is used to make your brain.
  
• Decrease consumption of flour-based products which can also increase blood glucose levels
  
• Decrease empty calories from sugar, corn syrups and high glycemic index foods
• Maintain a moderate exercise program which will encourage healthier lifestyle choices. If you are working out 5 times a week for a half hour you are more likely not to smoke or eat unhealthy foods.
• Explore the possibility that you may have a subclinical wheat intolerance
• Take R-lipoic acid, alpha is cheaper but you get what you pay for. R-lipoic acid is the most potent anti-oxidant for the brain and nervous tissue there is. 
• Supplement your diet with Omega-3 EPA and DHA oils. These are in fish oil supplements. 1-2 per day is not enough! You need to take one teaspoon of liquid or 6 gelcaps a day.
• There is a Chinese herbal formula called Yi Gan San that works on the striatum of the brain to decrease RLS symptoms. If you contact me I can help you get it.

The bottom line here is that if you have restless leg syndrome you probably have a genetic predisposition to it and your best strategy is to not encourage it with unwise lifestyle choices. Do everything you can to discourage damage to your body and your brain and the payoff could be huge. You could end up never having it seriously impacting your life. There are other strategies, but this is a good start.